Substitute bench

ABSTRACT

A substitute bench used for practicing sports to help the coaching team members and the players team during trainings or during sports competitions. The substitute bench includes a base frame with transfer and transport wheels, seats, auxiliary furniture, leg cover, and retractable roof structure for coverage and for placing static graphic advertising and/or dynamic content.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a substitute bench, meaning the kind of bench used for practicing sports, to help the coaching team members and the players team during trainings or during the sports competition proper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED

So far, substitute benches have been built on the basis of fixed structures located near the playing field, at the field's level or even below the field's level; that is to say, it was not possible to move substitute benches from their set location even if it was necessary to do so. In addition to that, there were no substitute benches at all at auxiliary fields or training fields, or they were improvised with chairs or benches located on the field itself. The coaching team members and the players were exposed to weather conditions, without all the comforts required to be seated and to store any first aid elements and apparel by kitmen, such as shoes, jerseys, etc. Furthermore, substitute benches currently in use do not allow for image projection or any other uses related to communication or advertising.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Now, and in order to solve the problems referred to in the paragraph above, this invention was planned to provide for a substitute bench which may be moved, and which has been equipped with a mobile roof top and side plates which may be adjusted to meet every different need, competition seats and/or armchairs, and furniture to store first aid elements and apparel by kitmen. On the mobile roof there is a wide surface for the installation of led—or other similar—screens to display both static and dynamic graphic advertising.

Therefore, the main subject matter of this invention comprises in a substitute bench used for practicing sports, to help the coaching team members and the players team during trainings or during the sports competition proper; which is characterized in that it comprises a tube-like structure base frame, forming a rectangular base covered by a plane laminar sheet which forms the floor; a structure which, on its higher back side, has a shaft which is as long as this back side, with at least one wheel on each end; the middle part of the base has a horizontal structural support separated from the floor plate, where the seats or armchairs are fixed one next to the other. Behind the seats and/or armchairs there is, at least, one auxiliary furniture with shelves; on the base, there are at least four stakes or mainstays—which have been placed equally distant from the horizontal structural support referred to—that are vertically projected to hold the curved roof. The roof starts in correspondence with the mentioned shaft and it extends forward convexly like a peak cap; such roof consists of a lower fixed panel and a top mobile panel; the top mobile panel slides on skids in respect of the lower fixed panel, through a pinion which supports the lower fixed panel and a zip fastener supporting the top mobile panel, synchronized by a gimbal and driven by a motive source.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that the mobile and fixed panels forming the roof enable static graphic advertising and image projection.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that the mobile and fixed panels forming the roof enable dynamic graphic advertising and image projection.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that mobile and fixed panels forming the roof have been equipped with LED screens comprising the entire surface.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that mobile and fixed panels forming the roof have been equipped with FLC screens comprising the entire surface.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that transparent lateral panels have been mounted on both sides and between the mentioned stakes or mainstays supporting the roof.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that such rectangular base has a leg-covering structure on the front formed by a tube-like base frame structure supporting a convex sheet which is taller than the abovementioned seats and which is equivalent in length to the entire base's length.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that such leg covering structure has LED screens all over its surface.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that such leg covering structure has FLC screens all over its surface.

A further object of this invention is characterized in that such motive source consists in a low voltage motor with a gearbox driven by a control switch, and such gearbox contains a clutch brake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the substitute bench, pursuant to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the substitute bench, pursuant to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the substitute bench, pursuant to FIG. 1 and in accordance with the A-A cut line stated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the substitute bench, pursuant to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of the substitute bench, pursuant to FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an upper view of the substitute bench, pursuant to FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the substitute bench, pursuant to this invention, with the mobile roof fully unfolded.

FIG. 8 is a lower perspective view of the substitute bench, pursuant to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view of the substitute bench, pursuant to this invention, with the mobile roof fully unfolded and the leg covering structured affixed.

FIG. 10 is a lower perspective view of the substitute bench, pursuant to FIG. 9.

FIG. 11, is an amplified detail of the roof operation mechanism.

A series of number references have been included in the figures, which represent:

-   1. Base frame. -   2. Base. -   3. Shaft. -   4. Wheel. -   5. Horizontal support. -   6. Seats or armchairs. -   7. Auxiliary furniture. -   8. Stakes. -   9. Roof. -   10. Lower fixed panel. -   11. Top mobile panel. -   12. Skids. -   13. Pinion. -   14. Zip fastener. -   15. Transparent lateral panels. -   16. Leg covering structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By making use of the number references included in the figures, it will be explained in detail below how this invention is used and what does it consist of. As it may be observed in the figures, as per this invention, the substitute bench consists of a tube-like base frame (1), which forms a rectangular base (2) covered by a plane laminar sheet which forms the structure floor; a structure which, on its higher back side, has a shaft (3) which is as long as this back side, with at least one wheel (4) on each end; the middle part of the base has a horizontal structural support (5) separated from the floor, where the seats or armchairs are fixed one next to the other (6). Behind the seats and/or armchairs there is, at least, one auxiliary furniture with shelves (7); on the base, there are at least four stakes or mainstays (8)—which have been placed equally distant from the horizontal structural support referred to—that are vertically projected to hold the curved roof (9). This roof (9) starts in correspondence with the mentioned shaft (3) and it extends forward convexly like a peak cap. Such roof consists of a lower fixed panel (10) and a top mobile panel (11); the top mobile panel (11) slides on skids (12) in respect of the lower fixed panel (10), through a pinion (13) which supports the lower fixed panel (10) and a zip fastener supporting the top mobile panel (11), synchronized by a gimbal and driven by a motive source (not plotted in the figures).

The mobile and fixed panels forming the roof constitute a broad surface on which static graphic advertising will be placed, and which may also be used to display dynamic graphic advertising.

The fixed (10) and mobile (11) panels forming the roof (9) have been equipped with LED screens comprising their entire surface and they may also be equipped with FLG screens (Flexible Led Courtain), comprising their entire surface.

Transparent lateral panels (15) have been mounted on both sides and between the mentioned stakes or mainstays (8) supporting the roof (9).

Such rectangular base has been equipped with a leg covering structure on the front side (16) formed by a tube-like base frame supporting a convex sheet which is taller than the seats referred to (6) and which is as long as the entire base. This leg covering (16) will also provide for the possibility of placing dynamic and/or static graphic advertising to be displayed on LED and/or FLG screens (Flexible Led Courtain), comprising its entire surface.

The top mobile panel (11) forming the roof (9) is moved by a motive source formed by a low voltage motor with a gearbox driven by a control switch, and such gearbox has a clutch brake (not plotted in the figures). It is worth making it clear that, in accordance with this invention, the substitute bench may be moved by lifting it from its front part, either manually or mechanically, by means of some kind of motor-driven vehicle, so that the weight is applied on the wheels, in order for the bench to be moved to a different place easily, as necessary.

Having particularly described and determined the nature and scope of this invention, as well as the way in which it is to be put into practice, the following is declared to be claimed of exclusive right and ownership: 

What is claimed is:
 1. A substitute bench for practicing sports to help coaching team members and players team during trainings or sports competitions comprising: a tube shaped base frame, forming a rectangular base covered by a plane laminar sheet which constitutes a floor; a structure having a high back side including a shaft which is as long as the high back side, with at least one wheel on each end; a middle part of the base frame has a horizontal support separated from the floor, where the seats or armchairs are fixed one next to the other. one auxiliary furniture with shelves is located behind the seats and/or armchairs; at least four stakes or mainstays connected to the base frame, the stakes or mainstays are placed equally distant from the horizontal support, the stakes or mainstays are vertically projected to hold a curved roof; the roof starts in correspondence with the shaft and extends forward convexly like a peak cap; the roof includes a lower fixed panel and a top mobile panel; the top mobile panel slides on skids in respect of the lower fixed panel, through a pinion which supports the lower fixed panel and a zip fastener supporting the top mobile panel, synchronized by a gimbal and driven by a motive source.
 2. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fixed and the mobile panels form the roof enable static graphic advertising and image projection.
 3. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 2, wherein the mobile and the fixed panels forming the roof enable dynamic graphic advertising and image projection.
 4. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 2, wherein the fixed and the mobile panels forming the roof have been equipped with LED screens through their entire surface.
 5. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 2, wherein the mobile and the fixed panels forming the roof have been equipped with FLC screens through the entire surface.
 6. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 1, further including transparent lateral panels mounted on both sides and between the stakes or mainstays supporting the roof.
 7. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rectangular base includes a leg covering structure on the front side formed by the tube shaped base frame supporting a convex sheet which is taller than the seats and which is equivalent in length to the entire base's length.
 8. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 8, wherein the leg covering structure has LED screens all over its surface.
 9. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 8, wherein the leg covering structure has FLC screens all over its surface.
 10. The substitute bench in accordance with claim 1, wherein the motive source includes a low voltage motor with a gearbox driven by a control switch, and the gearbox has a clutch brake. 